The Cellar - June 25, 2008: Picky Picky

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June 25, 2008: Picky Picky

You can pick your friends, and you can pick your ears, but you can't......

Neatorama points to these two combination earwax spoon/ toothpick, antiques.

Discovery News.

Quote:

One Expensive Ear Pick
In this photo released by the Florida Keys News Bureau, a tiny solid gold combination toothpick and earwax scoop is displayed inside a clam shell. A diver recovered the artifact Sunday, May 18, about 40 miles west of Key West during a search for remains of the Spanish galleon Santa Margarita that shipwrecked in a 1622 hurricane. Estimated value of the pick could exceed $100,000

http://cellar.org/2008/earwax-spoon.jpg

APVA

Quote:

Sterling Silver Ear Picker Pin
A status symbol and hygienic tool, this ear picker/tooth cleaner was found at the James Fort site by APVA Preservation Virginia archaeologists. The 17th-century English knew about plaque, which they called scale or surf, and were encouraged by doctors to scrape their teeth frequently. They also knew that a buildup of earwax could cause deafness. As was the fashion for many of these tools, our ear picker is double-ended, combining the function of an ear scoop with that of a nail/tooth cleaner. Ear pickers were used by all levels of society in medieval and post-medieval England, but ours, being silver, probably belonged to a gentleman.

http://cellar.org/2008/sterlingearpicker.jpg

Bet you wish you had one for the gross out value. :D

Hygiene is important! These people just valued it so much that they even made tools out of precious metals for...a classier experience? I guess this shows that pretty much anything can be made from gold and silver. :) :cool:

I wonder when these tools went out of fashion in the West. And why. People still have earwax, right? People should still groom themselves, right?
I have a little earwax spoon/keychain that I bought in China a few years ago for about 2 cents. (They're mass-produced in steel, not silver) It's a handy little tool.

That's what Q-tips are for.

I thought that was a coke spoon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by newtimer (Post 464706)

I wonder when these tools went out of fashion in the West. And why.

Replaced with car keys. ;)

Gold and silver for earwax and tartar removal, but I guess they used the old farmer's blow to clean their noses. Now I'm going to stop thinking about these things for the rest of my life.:yelsick:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clodfobble (Post 464724)

That's what Q-tips are for.

'cepting Q-tips just shove most of the wax up into the far recesses of the ear canal. And, of course, the Q-tip folks say not to use their product in the ear canal.;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by barefoot serpent (Post 464750)

'cepting Q-tips just shove most of the wax up into the far recesses of the ear canal. And, of course, the Q-tip folks say not to use their product in the ear canal.;)

Poor technique. Q-tipping is an art and feels deliriously wonderful. I'm a junkie. My ears are very tidy. The qtip folks just don't want you to stick it in your ear for fear you will poke a hole in your ear drum or leave cotton in there. All examples of poor technique.

They don't care if you screw up your ear, they just don't want to be sued.:D

Quote:

Originally Posted by footfootfoot (Post 464751)

I agree 100%. It's all about the eargasm.

depends on the diameter of the ear canal. My wife, poor thing, has small diameter ear canals and can't insert the q-tip into the canal. It just mushes the wax back into the canal opening.

I, on the other hand, get an eargasm every morning.

Quote:

Originally Posted by glatt (Post 464763)

I, on the other hand, get an eargasm every morning.

http://fc02.deviantart.com/fs5/i/200...y_chadamus.jpg

:D

I am surprised to find so many q-tip junkies. I thought my every-day-without-fail habit was rare.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clodfobble (Post 464776)

I thought my every-day-without-fail habit was rare.

If I don't q-tip my ears after I shower, my ears feel gross all day. All moist and itchy; it drives me crazy.